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"We're obviously disappointed that the decision to charge her was made," Johnson said. "Last week we provided the Kennewick Police Department and prosecutors with some records that corroborated that my client didn't commit this crime."

Johnson said Jennings maintains her innocence and "we're just going to have to resolve it in trial."

She is expected to be arraigned next week.

Kennewick police Sgt. Ken Lattin said there was a delay in charging Jennings because investigators were working on collecting additional evidence, including cell phone records, and reconstructing the accident scene.

Jennings and Dilger apparently had been at the same party early Oct. 24 when Dilger left because she got into a argument with her husband and started walking away, court documents said.

Dilger's husband followed and she stopped to talk to him in the 4600 block of South Garfield Street when she was hit by a small, dark SUV, police said.

Jennings allegedly had taken the keys to a dark blue Honda CRV that belonged to Dacia Urban and was on her way to pick Dilger up, documents said.

She pulled over after striking Dilger, then drove away and returned to the party a short distance away, documents said.Officers went to the party and located the CRV, which had damage consistent with Dilger's injuries that did not exist before Urban had arrived at the party, documents said.

Urban said she gave Jennings a ride to the party, then Jennings took her keys so Urban couldn't drive later because she was planning on drinking.

Dilger said she had asked Jennings to pick her up and was expecting to meet her at 45th Avenue and Garfield Street, documents said.

A witness at the party also said they saw Jennings standing by the driver's side door of the CRV shortly before officers arrived.

Dilger, an emergency room nurse at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, suffered a skull fracture, injuries to her head and face, and fractures to her lumbar spine. She also previously told the Herald that she needs a total reconstruction of her lower left leg and likely will be out of work for at least a year.